AI is spreading faster than electricity or the internet — but half the world can't join in, Microsoft report says

Artificial intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented pace, outstripping the growth of electricity and the internet, according to Microsoft's latest "AI Diffusion Report." This report highlights a troubling trend: while over 1.2 billion individuals are now utilizing AI tools, a significant portion of the global population remains excluded from this technological wave. The disparity in AI adoption reveals a stark divide between nations with the necessary infrastructure and resources, and those struggling with basic needs. Countries such as the UAE, Singapore, and Norway lead the charge with adoption rates exceeding 50%, benefitting from robust electricity supplies, widespread internet access, and a digitally literate populace. In contrast, regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America face daunting challenges, with fewer than 10% of their populations having access to AI technologies. Low internet penetration, inconsistent power supply, and a lack of educational resources are major hurdles that hinder these communities from engaging with the digital economy. Microsoft's report identifies three key players in the AI landscape: frontier builders who create sophisticated models, infrastructure builders responsible for data center operations, and AI users who implement these tools. While the United States, United Kingdom, and South Korea dominate in innovation, the infrastructure gap remains significant, with the U.S. leading in data center capacity at 53.7 gigawatts, followed by China and Germany. Furthermore, language poses another critical barrier to AI accessibility. Most AI systems are primarily trained in English and a handful of other languages, leaving the majority of the world's 7,000 languages underrepresented. This underrepresentation particularly affects speakers of low-resource languages such as Hausa and Bengali, who find themselves at a disadvantage when trying to leverage AI technologies. Microsoft warns that without improvements in digital infrastructure and educational resources, these disparities will shape the future landscape of AI, potentially entrenching a new technological divide that could persist for generations.